The nationwide public health emergency for COVID-19 expired on May 11, 2023, because the country now has effective methods in place to control its spread and ill effects.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) still requires all nursing homes to follow established infection control practices based on accepted national standards; however, the following procedures will change at Creekside:

1. We will no longer use this website to list any positive cases of COVID-19 in our nursing homes.

2. We will only inform first contacts in the event their loved one has a positive test.

3. Visitors don’t need to check in and answer health screening questions before they enter.

The infection control practices below must continue, so we ask for your cooperation. These efforts remain our best line of defense in protecting the health of all who live, work and visit at western home communities.

• Postpone non-urgent visits if:

  • You’ve tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 10 days.

  • You’ve had close contact with someone who’s tested positive in the last ten days.

  • You have any symptoms of COVID-19 (fever above 100.4, dry cough, shortness of breath, congestion/runny nose, sore throat, headache, chills, muscle pain, diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, pink eye or feeling ill).

• Cover any cough and wash your hands regularly or use hand sanitizer.

• Wear a mask when visiting if you are asked to, which will happen when:

  • the building has a resident who tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 10 days, and/or

  • The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services has reported a high level of community transmission (the report is posted here).

• Stay up to date on your covid-19 vaccinations as recommended by the CDC. You can find those current recommendations here.

We appreciate your ongoing support.

For people aged 65+, the CDC recently recommended a second shot of the updated vaccine that protects against both the original virus and the omicron variant BA.4 and BA.5. We will be administering those to all nursing home residents who want one in May 2023.